Improvement in machine for bending sheet-metal



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AMCS SHEPARD, Cl1 NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

Lette/rs Patent No. 84,714, elated December 8, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINE FOR BENDING- SHEET-METAL. y.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part 'of the same.

To all lwhom 'it 'may concern I Be it known that I, Anios SHEPARD, of New Britain, in the county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented a new and improved Machine for Forming Angular Tubes and Bending Sheet-Metal; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art topmake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying dram'ngs, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my invention. Figure 2 is a ont elevation of the sarne. Figure 3 is a transverse section cut through line :v-x

' msgs.

Figure 4 is a top View of my invention. A

Figures 5 and 6 varev side elevations of sheet-metal formed with this machine.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

My invention consists in suspending a thin plate over the edges of two folding-bars, which bars are hinged at each end in such manner that their inner edges 'are in the centre of motion.

The under side of each bar is provided with a stationary support, near its outer edge, while an opening more than equal to the thickness of both bars is left under them, in such manner that when the plate and centre of the bars descend, the supports cause the bars to fold up either side of the plate. y

AAdesignate the folding-bars, whiclbars are hinged at each end to slides B B, on a line with the centre of plate C.

The plate C is secured at each end to sliding posts DI D2, which posts are made to slide inside of slides B B, and are rounded at their lower ends to receive a spiral spring, not shown,'for raising the posts D11)2 andthe plate C.

One end of plate C is hinged to post D, while the' other end is arranged in any proper manner, so as .to be easily detached from post Di', and allow one end of the plate C to ,be raised into position, shown. by red lines in fig. 2.

Idesignates a cross-piece, which connects the slides FF designate c'aps or ear-pieces, attached to crosspiece El and slides B B, and supporting the ends of the pivots on which the bars A A are hinged.

At each end of the machine, one end of two spiral springs, H H, is attached to the haine G, while the other ends are connected by a rod, I, passing under the lower end of ear-piece Ff Each end'of cross-piece E2 is attached to the lower ends of sliding posts Dl DZ. Thus, when the lever T I rest on supports L L, which are apart of the frame G, and consequently cannot descend, but turn towards the plate C, as it descends into position, shown'by red lines in'g. 3, sheet 2.

The spiral springs H H cause the slides B B and their connections to ascend, while the bars A A will fall back into .their original position of their own weight. The red lines in the several figures show the position of lthe several parts when the lever T is loweredl If desired, the slides B B and their connections might .be made stationary, and the frame G and its connections caused to ascend, when the machine would operate substantially the same. l

a designates a gauge, which can beadjusted by setscrew b.

c c designate setserews, which can be set to stop A the slides B B and their connections, when the bars A A have folded the metal at any desired angle.

When the barsA A are caused to descend until the metal is pressed'ilrmly against both sides of plate C, the machine forms the metal into what tinsmiths term a lock,'as shown in iig. 5, sheet 2.`

By raising set-screws c c, the bars AA can be stopped when they have turned the metal at a right angle.

After forming one angle, the corner of it can be placed against the gauge a, and'another angle formed, and so on until four angles are formed, which will make a square tube or box, as shown in ing. 6, sheet 2.

It will then be found convenient to detach the end of plate C from post D2, and raiseit, as shown by red lines, fig. 2, totake the tube thus formed from the plate G. 1 y

By adjusting set-screws c c, a tube of any angle and number of sides may be formed.

K K designate tables for the convenience of the operator.

The gauge a is secured to table K, but when brought forward near plate C, it fits closely to the bar A.

The metal is .then placed against it, and', as the plate C descends and gripes the metal, the metal and bars A A move away from the gauge c, and are thus allowed to form the inetal closely against the plate C, which could not be done if the gauge a were fastened to bar A. Y

The gauge al can also be set backa distance greater than the Width of therbars A A.

In all other folding-machines, I believe the gauge is connected, either with the plate or one of the bars.

By my invention I produce the iirst machine ever known for both forming angular tubes and turning a lock on sheet-metal. It can be operated, if desired, by the feet, .thus giving the operator the use of both hands.

The gauge c is in plain sight of the operator, thus enabling him to tell by sight when the metal is against theagauge a, Whereas, with the ordinary machines, he can only tell by feeling. The plate C being suspended over the machine, the

top of which is level, a piece of' metal of indefinite length can be placed under it, and a bend formed at any desired point.

Although capable of doing a greater Variety of work, it can be made at as small a cost as the ordinary inaehines.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 1. The combination of the plate C, bars A A, and supports L L, the whole connected and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the plate C, bars A A, slides B B, and set-screws c o, the'whole `connected and 0perating substantially as and for the purpose described.'

3. The combination of the plate C, bars A A, gauge .for the purpose described.

a, and table K, arranged and operating substantially 'asV and for the purpose described.

4. Hingiug -the plate C at one end' so that the other end of the plate C can be ,raised, substantially as and for the purpose. desciibed.

5. The combination of the bars A A and plate C, when arranged so that at each operation of the machine the plate (3 shall'move edgewise towards the bars A A, and gripe the metal previous to any action or movement of the bars A A, substantially as and AMOS SHEPARD.

Witnesses:

FRED. G. MEAD, JAMES SHEPARD. 

